The Italian Singer Performed FIFA's Official Anthem at MetLife Stadium, Torn Between Spain and ArgentinaThere was a small piece of Italy on stage at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, just before Spain and Argentina walked out to contest the World Cup 2026 final. Laura Pausini, arguably Italy's most internationally recognized musical export, took part in the closing ceremony, delivering a performance that mixed genuine star power with an unusually candid moment of divided loyalty.The ceremony opened in two segments: first Post Malone, performing "Sunflower," then, closer to kickoff, Jennifer Hudson delivering a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," a symbolic choice for a final being played on American soil as the culmination of a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first World Cup with 48 national teams. Between those two moments, the stage belonged in part to Pausini, who shared it with Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger to perform "Desire," the Williams-penned track that became FIFA's first-ever official tournament anthem. Pausini's connection to the song runs deeper than a guest performance: she personally handled its Spanish-language adaptation. The Look Pausini's outfit for the night came from the Italian fashion house Balestra: a gown built around tulle, Swarovski crystals and a draped silhouette, designed with a controlled, deliberate shimmer rather than an overwhelming one. The result leaned into blue, matching the night's dominant color scheme, and framed her as one of the ceremony's most visually striking figures. As is typical for any high-profile televised look, the dress drew some criticism on social media, though most coverage described it as a precise, effective choice that turned her into a genuinely radiant presence for one of the year's biggest broadcasts. A Show Built Like American Spectacle The ceremony leaned into an unmistakably American production style, blending the trappings of a major sporting event with the pacing of a full pop concert. Robbie Williams was also expected to perform "Let Me Entertain You," while Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman, was set to sing "Don't Cha." Streamer IShowSpeed, one of the most-followed digital personalities among younger audiences, also joined the lineup, alongside a special appearance from Tom Cruise. The full show kicked off at 1:30pm local time, roughly 90 minutes before the opening whistle of the final, timed to build anticipation for millions of viewers tuning in worldwide. Live production being what it is, the broadcast wasn't glitch-free: viewers noticed a brief audio issue just before Hudson's anthem performance. It barely dented the atmosphere, though, since Williams's appearance alone drew a roar loud enough to visibly shake the stadium. Torn Between Two Teams Pausini's presence carried its own layer of tension, entirely personal rather than professional. Her connections to both Spain and Latin America run deep, built over decades of touring that regularly fills stadiums across both regions, which left her facing a final between Spain and Argentina without an obvious team to root for. She's been open about the dilemma, describing both countries as, in essence, family to her, a comment that turned what might have been a routine performer profile into a small, relatable footnote on one of the sport's biggest nights. For Pausini, whose career has long been defined by an international reach few Italian artists ever achieve, sharing a World Cup closing-ceremony stage with Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, in front of a global television audience, marks another milestone in a run that shows no real sign of slowing down.

There was a small piece of Italy on stage at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, just before Spain and Argentina walked out to contest the World Cup 2026 final. Laura Pausini, arguably Italy's most internationally recognized musical export, took part in the closing ceremony, delivering a performance that mixed genuine star power with an unusually candid moment of divided loyalty. The ceremony opened in two segments: first Post Malone, performing "Sunflower," then, closer to kickoff, Jennifer Hudson delivering a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," a symbolic choice for a final being played on American soil as the culmination of a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first World Cup with 48 national teams. Between those two moments, the stage belonged in part to Pausini, who shared it with Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger to perform "Desire," the Williams-penned track that became FIFA's first-ever official tournament anthem. Pausini's connection to the song runs deeper than a guest performance: she personally handled its Spanish-language adaptation. Pausini's outfit for the night came from the Italian fashion house Balestra: a gown built around tulle, Swarovski crystals and a draped silhouette, designed with a controlled, deliberate shimmer rather than an overwhelming one. The result leaned into blue, matching the night's dominant color scheme, and framed her as one of the ceremony's most visually striking figures. As is typical for any high-profile televised look, the dress drew some criticism on social media, though most coverage described it as a precise, effective choice that turned her into a genuinely radiant presence for one of the year's biggest broadcasts. The ceremony leaned into an unmistakably American production style, blending the trappings of a major sporting event with the pacing of a full pop concert. Robbie Williams was also expected to perform "Let Me Entertain You," while Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman, was set to sing "Don't Cha." Streamer IShowSpeed, one of the most-followed digital personalities among younger audiences, also joined the lineup, alongside a special appearance from Tom Cruise. The full show kicked off at 1:30pm local time, roughly 90 minutes before the opening whistle of the final, timed to build anticipation for millions of viewers tuning in worldwide. Live production being what it is, the broadcast wasn't glitch-free: viewers noticed a brief audio issue just before Hudson's anthem performance. It barely dented the atmosphere, though, since Williams's appearance alone drew a roar loud enough to visibly shake the stadium. Pausini's presence carried its own layer of tension, entirely personal rather than professional. Her connections to both Spain and Latin America run deep, built over decades of touring that regularly fills stadiums across both regions, which left her facing a final between Spain and Argentina without an obvious team to root for. She's been open about the dilemma, describing both countries as, in essence, family to her, a comment that turned what might have been a routine performer profile into a small, relatable footnote on one of the sport's biggest nights. For Pausini, whose career has long been defined by an international reach few Italian artists ever achieve, sharing a World Cup closing-ceremony stage with Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, in front of a global television audience, marks another milestone in a run that shows no real sign of slowing down.